Cupcake carrying case

ABSTRACT

A food article holder particularly suited for storing and transporting a plurality of food articles, such as cupcakes, includes pivotally connected front and back container portions. A plurality of compartments are formed partly in the back portion and partly in the front portion of the container for supporting the individual food articles. Each support surface in the back portion of the container includes an open end which is closed by a filler carried on the front portion of the container when the front portion is closed to the back portion to substantially support the entire lower portion of a food article in each compartment.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates, in general, to article holders andcarrying cases and, more specifically, to containers and carrying casessuited for storing and transporting articles of food, such as cupcakes.

Containers for transporting food articles from place to place take anumber of different forms, usually related to the shape and type of foodarticle that is being transported. However, the transportation offragile or easily damaged food articles, such as cupcakes, has provendifficult to adequately address.

Primarily, a cupcake carrying case must function to protect the cupcakesfrom damage as the cupcakes are moved from place to place. That is, thecupcakes must be retained within the container without damage to theicing topping through contact between the icing and the container orwith other cupcakes. At the same time, the cupcakes must be able to beeasily loaded and unloaded from the container.

These requirements are magnified when it becomes necessary to transporta large number of cupcakes at one time, for example, from the placewhere the cupcakes are made or purchased to the consumption site. Suchtransportation is typically performed by children who frequently takecupcakes to a school function or to a party.

Holders for multiple cupcakes have employed stackable trays, similar tothe baking trays used to bake the cupcakes in an oven. The trays fitwithin a large, outer container. However, loading and unloading of theindividual cupcakes requires multiple movements as the trays must beremoved or added to the stack in the container during loading andunloading of cupcakes to and from the container.

Thus, it is would desirable to provide a carrying case for storing andtransporting multiple cupcakes which simultaneously protects thecupcakes from contact with each other and with the case which preventsmovement of the cupcakes within the container, and which permits easyloading and unloading of individual cupcakes to and from the container.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a container or carrying case adapted forcarrying a plurality of food articles, such as cupcakes.

In one aspect, the container includes a back portion and a frontportion. Means are provided for pivotally connecting the front and backportions of the container for movement of the front and back portionsrelative to each other. A plurality of individual compartments areformed in the back and front portions of the container. Each compartmentindividually supports a single food article. Each compartment is definedby at least a side wall in the back portion of the container configuredfor engagingly supporting a lower portion of the side of a food article.The side wall has a discontinuity facing the front portion of thecontainer. A plurality of fillers are carried on an inside surface ofthe front portion of the container and are disposed within andsubstantially fill the discontinuity in the side wall in the support ineach compartment in the back portion of the container supporting anindividual food article in each compartment.

In another aspect, the container includes a back portion and a frontportion, each including opposed side edges, a top normal use edge and abottom edge. Means are provided for pivotally connecting the front andback portions of the container for movement of the front and backportions relative to each other. A plurality of individual compartmentsare formed in the container, each defined by a side wall support in theback portion of the container for supporting a lower side portion of asingle food article. The plurality of compartments are arranged instacked vertical columns between the top edge and the bottom edge of thecontainer and side by side and horizontal rows between the opposed sideedges of the container for at least vertical stacking of single foodarticles and vertically arranged compartments when the container is in anormal, vertically extending use position with the top edge of thecontainer disposed uppermost.

The food article carrying container addresses the deficiencies describedabove for prior art food article or cupcake holders and carrying cases.The container has substantially one piece, lightweight design whichfacilitates easy transportation, easy cleaning, typically in adishwasher, while at the same time meeting the primary function ofprotecting individual food articles or cupcakes and, in particular, theicing topping on each cupcake, from contact with the surroundingcontainer or other cupcakes. Simultaneously, the container allows easyloading and unloading of individual food articles or cupcakes to andfrom the compartments. In this manner, the cupcake carrying caseprovides an easy and efficient means for transporting a large number offood articles or cupcakes. The container is ideally suited for use bychildren to carry a large number of food articles or cupcakes to schoolor to a party.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The various features, advantages and other uses of the present inventionwill become more apparent by referring to the following detaileddescription and drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective right end view of a cupcake carrying case shownin the partially open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective left end view of the cupcake carrying casedepicted in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, exploded, perspective view of a portion of thefront and back of the container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, generally taken along line 4-4 in FIG.1;

FIG. 5 is a top, cross-sectional view showing an individual compartmentin the container depicted in a closed position;

FIG. 6 is a top cross-sectional view showing another aspect of thecompartment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, there is depicted a container or carryingcase 10 for safely transporting a plurality of food articles,particularly, cupcakes.

The container 10 may be formed of any lightweight, corrosion or waterresistant material, such as a suitable plastic and, more particularly, adishwasher proof washable plastic.

The container 10 may be constructed by various assembly processes, suchas in a one piece molded construction, multiple pieces joined togetherby hinges, sonic or heat welding, etc. In the following example, thecontainer 10 is formed of a one piece molded or otherwise formed backportion 12 and a one piece, molded or otherwise formed front portion 14viewed in the use orientation shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The back and front portions 12 and 14 are pivotally joined togetheralong one edge to enable the back and front portions 12 and 14 to bemoved relative to at least one or both each other from an open positionshown in FIG. 1 to a closed position shown in FIG. 2.

In the vertically extending, use position shown in Fig., the back andfront portions 12 and 14 define a top surface 16, a bottom surface 18,and opposed side surfaces 20 and 22.

By way of example only, a hinge means 24 pivotally connects the backportion 12 and the front portion 14. Although the hinge means 24 may beformed or mounted along any of the top surface 16, the bottom surface18, and the side surfaces 20 and 22, by way of example only, the hingemeans 24 is formed or mounted along the side surface 20 to pivotallyconnect the back portion 12 and the front portion 14 for pivotalmovement of one or both of the back portion 12 and front portion 14relative to the other about a pivot axis extending through the hingemeans 24 along the side surface 20.

The hinge means 24 may be formed of any suitable hinge, including leafmembers connected to each of the back portion 12 and front portion 14and interconnected by a pivot pin. As shown by way of example only inFIGS. 1 and 2, the hinge means 24 may also be a living hinge formed atthe time of molding of the back portion 12 and the front portion 14. Inthis aspect, the hinge means 24 pivotally joins the front portion 14 tothe back portion 12 while at the same time allowing pivotal movement ofthe front portion 14 relative to the back portion 12.

In the following description, it will be assumed that the back portion12 remains in a stationary position and the front portion 14 pivotsabout an axis extending through the hinge means 24 between the closedposition shown in FIG. 2 and the open position shown in FIG. 1.

The container 10, including each of the back portion 12 and frontportion 14 may have any shape, including polygonal, i.e. square,rectangular, etc., circular, oval, etc. Further, the overall size of thecontainer 10 may be selected to enable any desired number of foodarticles, such as cupcakes, to be disposed within the container 10. Forexample, the container 10 may be constructed of a size to hold 12, 24,30, 36, etc., normal size cupcakes, muffins, etc.

Latch means 30 is formed or mounted on the container 10 for releasablylatching the back portion 12 and the front portion 14 in the closedposition shown in FIG. 2. The latch means 30 may include one or moreindividual latches, with a pair of spaced latches 30 being shown by wayof example only.

Any suitable latch may be used to form the latch means 30. Thus, byexample only, each latch means 30 includes a latch member 32 which isflexibly or movably joined to the top surface 16 of the back portion 12of the container 10 by a pivot or hinge means. In the present aspect,the hinge 34 is illustrated as being a living hinge formed unitarilywith the top surface latch 16 of the back portion 12 of the container10. Each latch member 32 includes an aperture 36 which is sized toreleasably engage a projection of hook 38 formed on the top edge of thefront portion 14 of the container 10.

With the latch members 36 disposed in an outward projecting position bythe hinge means 34, away from the top surface 16 of the back portion 12,the front portion 14 may be easily pivoted between the open and closedpositions. When the front portion 14 is moved into engagement with theback portion 12 in the closed position, the latch members 32 may beforced over the projections 38 to form a releasable latch due to a hookformed on each projection 38 or a slight biasing of the hook 38 throughthe aperture 36 in each latch member 32. In this manner, the latch means30 holds the front portion 14 in the closed position relative to theback portion 12.

It will be understood that the latch means 30 may comprise one ormultiple latches. Further, the latch members 32 and the mountingpositions of the latch members 32 and the projections 38 may be reversedwith the projections 38 disposed on the side surface 32 of the backportion 12 and the latch members 32 hingedly mounted on the frontportion 14.

Handle means 40 may optionally be provided on the container 10. By wayof example only, the handle means 40 is depicted as being a discrete,generally inverted, U-shaped handle having an upper end 42 and opposedside legs 44 and 46. The side legs 44 and 46 are pivotally connected bymeans of pivot pins 48 to individual receivers 50 formed or otherwisemounted on the top surface 16 of the back portion 12 of the container10. The pivotal connection provided by the pins 48 enables the handle 40to pivot between a raised position suitable for easy carrying of thecontainer 10 to a folded down, non-use position, not shown.

It will be understood that the handle 40 may also take other shapes,such as a handle having the overall shape shown in FIG. 1, but formed oftwo complementarily shaped portions, each integrally carried on orattached to the complementary mating edges of the back portion 12 andthe front portion 14.

The handle means 40 may also be a simple recess and overlapping lipformed in the top surface 16 of the back portion 12 of the container 10.

Optional stabilizer means 60 may also be employed to securely positionthe container 10 in its upright, nominal, use position shown in FIGS. 1and 2 during periods of non-use, as well as during loading and unloadingof food articles, such as cupcakes, into and out of the container 10.

By way of example only, the stabilizer means 60 includes at least one ora pair of legs 62 and 64 which may extend continuously ordiscontinuously in discrete, spaced members, from the bottom surface 18of the container 10 between the opposed side edges 20 and 22. The legs62 and 64 are joined to the bottom surface 18 by adhesive, heat, orsonic welding, etc., or integrally molded with the container 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, and in greater detail in FIGS. 3-6, the top surface16, the bottom surface 18, and the opposed side edges or surfaces 20 and22 form a peripheral lip defining the exterior of the back portion 12 ofthe container 10. A similar peripheral lip can be formed on the frontportion 14.

A plurality of individual compartments 70, with only compartments 70A,70B, and 70C being described hereafter, are formed within the container10. The number of compartments 70 may vary as needed to receive andcarry any number of food articles, such as cupcakes. Thus, by way ofexample only, the compartments 70 may number 12, 24, 30, 36 as well asany other number in the container.

It will be understood that the term “compartment” as used herein,defines an interior space within the container 10 when the back portion12 and the front portion 14 are in the closed position shown in FIG. 2,which is capable of receiving and retaining a single food article, suchas a single cupcake, muffin, etc. The overall size of each compartment70 may be selected to suit the size of the particular food article to bedisposed therein, with containers having different compartment sizesbeing possible for different shaped and sized food articles, such assmall or large cupcakes, muffins, etc.

Although the compartments 70 are described and illustrated as having thesame identical construction, this is by way of example only.

Further, the interior space formed by each compartment 70 is formed oftwo portions, including a portion carried in the back portion 12 of thecontainer 10 and a portion carried within the front portion 14 of thecontainer 10. The compartment portions on the back portion 12 and thefront portion 14 are generally complementary toward each other to definea support and overall compartment for receiving and protecting anindividual food article.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-6, the compartments 70 are arranged in atleast one or more vertical columns and at least one or more horizontalrows. The vertical column or stacking allows the container 10 to beeasily carried by a user, and, in particular, a child, preferablywithout striking or dragging on the ground when the container 10 iscarried at the normal downward extension of a child's arm in much thesame manner as a briefcase would be carried. This general vertical useorientation of the container 10 during transportation shown in FIGS. 1and 2 holds the individual food articles or cupcakes in an uprightposition to minimize movement and thereby damage to the cupcakes and, inparticular, the icing topping on each cupcake.

The back portion of each compartment 70, such as compartments 70A, 70B,and 70C, are defined, at least in the back portion 12 of the container10, by optional vertically extending side walls 72 and 74, with eachside wall 72 and 74 forming a wall between two horizontally spacedcompartments 70A, 70B, etc.

Each portion of each compartment 70 in the back portion 12 of thecontainer 10 includes a support 76 which can be integrally molded orformed by fixed attachment to the interior of the back portion 12 of thecontainer 10. By way of example only, the support 76 and the verticalwalls 72 and 74 may be integrally molded during the formation of theback portion 12 of the container 10.

The support or base 76 is formed as one continuous piece extendingbetween the side edges 20 and 22 or number of separate pieces joinedtogether to form a unitary member. The base 76, in each of thecompartments, such as compartment 70A, has a generally planar shapeextending between the side walls 72 and 74, an outer back wall 78 of theback portion 12, and a opposite edge profile 80. In the aspect of theinvention shown in FIGS. 3-5, the edge profile 80 may take any shapewhich complementary to the corresponding edge profile on the frontportion 14 of the container. Thus, in this aspect of the invention, byway of example only, the edge profile 80 includes opposed planar ends 82and 84 which transition into angled or arcuate transition portions 86and 88 which extend in a direction toward the back wall 78 to inner,generally planar edges 90 and 92, which may be disposed substantiallyparallel to the outer edges 82 and 84, respectively. A support surface94 defining an aperture in at least a portion of the base 76 is formedbetween the inner ends of the inner edges 90 and 92. The support surface94 may also take a variety of shapes. However, by way of example, thesupport surface 94 has a tapered shape, generally part of the taperfound on the paper liner used in making cupcakes. Thus, the supportsurface 94 extends from a radially larger upper edge 96 to a radiallysmaller lower edge 98. The lower edge 98 may be consistent with anoptional bottom wall 100 which is disposed within and closes off thebottom edge of an opening formed interiorly within the support surface94. Alternately, the lower edge 98 may define an opening.

The bottom wall 100 can extend only under the bottom or lower portion ofeach support surface 94 or it can project outwardly between the each ofthe pairs of edges 90 and 92 to underlie the opening in the bottom ofthe complementary support surface in the front portion 14 of thecontainer when the back and front portions 12 and 14 are closedtogether.

The depth of the support surface 94 from the inner edges 90 and 92 tothe radially innermost extent of the support surface 94 can be at leasthalf or slightly more than fifty percent of the diameter of a cupcake soas to optimize support of the cupcake within the support surface 94;while, at the same time, allowing easy access to the compartment 70 forloading and unloading of a cupcake into an out of the support surface 94without contacting the icing topping on the cupcake with any cupcakes inadjacent compartments 70 or any part of the container 10.

The thickness of the supporter base 76 in each compartment 70 is alsoselected to be a predetermined percentage of the height of the cupcakeliner. This height can be from one quarter to three quarters, by way ofexample only, of the height of the cupcake liner so as to provideadequate support while enabling easy access to the cupcake in eachcompartment 70 for loading and unloading purposes.

The front portion 14 of the container 10, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5includes a filler 110 for each compartment 70. The fillers 110 areintegrally formed or molded with the formation of the front portion 14of the container 10 or may be formed as discrete elements fixedly joinedto the inner surface of the front portion 14 by heat or sonic welding,adhesive, etc.

Generally, as shown in FIG. 5, each filler 110 has a shape complementaryto the shape of the support 76 in each compartment. By way of exampleonly, the filler 110 for the compartment 70 shown in FIG. 5 includesouter edges 112 and 114 which transition to intermediate edges 116 and118. Inner edges 120 and 122 extend from one end of the intermediateedges 116 and 118 and are disposed generally parallel to the outer edges112 and 114. This forms the filler 110 with a shape complementary to theshape of the edge profile 80 of the corresponding support 76 in the backportion 12 of the container 10 and enables the filler 110 to slidewithin the recessed or open portion of the edge profile 80. The filler110 also includes a support surface 124 which completes the open end ofthe support surface 94 and the corresponding compartment 70 to surroundand provide support over substantially 360 degrees of the cupcake whenthe front portion 14 is closed on the back portion 12. The fillersupport surface 124 may also have a tapered shape extending from alarger diameter top edge 126 to a smaller diameter inner or lower edge128. The inner edge 128 may be left open or it may be closed with abottom wall.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, when the front portion 14 is closed on theback portion 12, the support surfaces 94 and 124 combine to form agenerally continuous support surface which receives the lower portion ofa cupcake in a protected manner.

Another aspect of the support surfaces in the back of portion 12 and thefront portion 14 is shown in FIG. 6. In this aspect, a support surface140 in the back portion 12 also has a tapered shape extending from alarger diameter upper edge to a smaller diameter inner or lower edge.However, the opposed outer ends 142 and 144 of the support surface 140are generally planer. This forms the support surface 140 with agenerally U-shape.

The filler 150 on the front portion 14 of the container 10 has opposedside edges 152 and 154 which project generally perpendicularly from afront wall 156. A generally arcuate, concave edge profile 158 extendsbetween the side edges 152 and 154. The side edges 152 and 154 fitwithin the end portions 142 and 144 of the support surface 140 to form asubstantially continuous support surface about a food article, such as acupcake.

In summary, there has been disclosed a unique food article carryingcontainer, for cupcakes, etc., which individually protects a pluralityof food articles from damage during transport between locations. At thesame time, the container, when in an open position, allows easy accessto each food article.

1. A container for holding a plurality of food articles comprising: thecontainer including a back portion and a front portion; means forpivotally connecting the front and back portions of the container; aplurality of individual compartments formed in the back and frontportions of the container, each compartment individually supporting asingle food article, each compartment including a back in the backportion of the container defined by at least a sidewall configured forengagingly supporting a lower portion of a side of a food article, thesidewall having a discontinuity facing the front portion of thecontainer; and a plurality of fillers carried on an inside surface ofthe front portion of the container and substantially filling thediscontinuity in the sidewall of the support in each compartment in theback portion of the container to support a food article in eachcompartment.
 2. The container of claim 1 wherein: an inner surface ofthe sidewall in the back portion of the container tapers radially inwardfrom a top to a bottom.
 3. The container of claim 1 wherein: each fillerhas at least one side edge disposed in engagement with the sidewall of acomplementary compartment in the back portion of the container when thefront and back portions of the container are closed together.
 4. Thecontainer of claim 3 wherein: an inner surface of the sidewall in eachcompartment in the back portion of the container defines a U-shapeincluding opposed ends, the discontinuity formed between outer portionsof the opposed ends, and an interconnecting, arcuate, inner end.
 5. Thecontainer of claim 4 wherein: each filler has an arcuate inner surfacewith opposed side edges, the inner surface cooperating with an innersurface of the sidewall in each compartment in the back portion of thecontainer define a substantially circular support about a lower portionof the side of a container.
 6. The container of claim 1 furthercomprising: at least one stabilizer foot carried on the bottom of thecontainer.
 7. The container of claim 6 wherein: the at least onestabilizer foot comprises two spaced feet.
 8. The container of claim 1wherein: the compartments are arranged in a grid of vertical columns andhorizontal rows.
 9. The container of claim 8 wherein: the container hasa normal use top edge, an opposed bottom edge, and opposed side edgesinterconnecting the top edge and the bottom edge. The compartmentsextending side by side horizontally between the opposed side edges andstacked vertically between the bottom edge and the top edge.
 10. Thecontainer of claim 1 further comprising: each compartment having a floordisposed across a bottom of the sidewall.
 11. The container of claim 1further comprising: a handle carried on an edge of the container. 12.The container of claim 1 further comprising: releasable latch means forreleasably securing the front to the back of the container.
 13. Thecontainer of claim 9 wherein: the pivotally connecting means is mountedon one of the side edges of the container to define a normal verticallyextending axis of pivotal movement of the front of the container withrespect to the back of the container between open and closed positions.14. A container for holding a plurality of food articles comprising: thecontainer including a back portion and a front portion, each of the backportion and the front portion including opposed side edges, a top normaluse edge, and a bottom edge; means for pivotally connecting the frontand back portions of the container; and a plurality of individualcompartments each defined by a sidewall support formed in the backportion of the container for supporting a lower side portion of a singlefood article, the plurality of compartments arranged in stacked verticalcolumns between the top edge and the bottom edge of the container andside by side in horizontal rows between the opposed side edges of thecontainer for at least vertical stacking of single food articles invertically arranged compartments when the container is in a normal,vertically extending use position with the top edge of the containerdisposed uppermost.
 15. A container of claim 14 wherein: a portion ofeach individual compartment is formed in the back portion of thecontainer.
 16. The container of claim 14 further comprising: a fillercarried on the front portion of the container and disposable within theback portion of the container for surrounding substantially all of thecircumference of the portion of a food article disposed therein.
 17. Thecontainer of claim 15 further comprising: a handle carried on an edge ofthe container.
 18. The container of claim 14 further comprising:releasable latch means for releasably securing the front to the back ofthe container.
 19. The container of claim 14 further comprising: atleast one stabilizer foot carried on the bottom of the container. 20.The container of claim 19 wherein: the at least one stabilizer footcomprises two spaced feet.
 21. The container of claim 14 wherein themeans for pivotally connecting the front and back portions of thecontainer comprises: hinge means extending between the front and backportions of the container.
 22. A holder for holding a plurality ofindividual food articles comprising: a container including a backportion and a front portion; means for pivotally connecting the frontand back portions of the container; and a plurality of compartmentsformed in the container, each compartment defined partly in the backportion of the container and partly in the front portion of thecontainer.
 23. The holder of claim 22 wherein each compartmentcomprises: means for supporting a food article in the back portion andthe front portion of each compartment.
 24. The holder of claim 23wherein: the support in the back portion includes a base, an apertureformed in the base defining an inward facing support surface, thesupport surface having an open end.
 25. The holder of claim 24 wherein:the front portion support includes a filler having an edge surfacesubstantially closing the open end of the support surface in the base ofthe back portion support when the front portion is closed relative tothe back portion of the container.
 26. The holder of claim 24 wherein:the inward facing support surface in each compartment in the backportion of the container and a filler edge surface both having a taperedshape defined by a larger diameter upper edge and a smaller diameterlower edge.
 27. The holder of claim 25 further comprising: a bottom wallextending across a lower edge of the aperture.
 28. The holder of claim27 wherein: the bottom wall extending from the back portion to underlieat least a portion of the filler in the front portion.